Bottle filling machinery



Aug. 6,- 1935. c. w. SCHRAITLE BOTYTLE FILLING MACHINE}?! Filed July 17, 1931 INVENTOR ATTORNEY III 111/ 01,

////////1 Q 6 1 L m FEW Patented Aug. 6, 1935 l. w en era-res PATENT oFFieE- chines and methods and relates particularly to bottle filling machines of "the type wherein" a plurality of bottles "continuously fed to the ma: chine; are automatically and -successively filled with a beverage such asbeer carbonated syrup orthelike. l

Myinvention comprises certain features of 1mprovement over the mechanism illustratedand;

described in the application of Fred W. Muller;

, Serial No. '4;97,665,;filedN0vember 24,1930, for

Bottle filling machines and methods. v

The invention of the instant application re- H lates moreparticularl y to a valve construction 15* particularly adapted tdbottle P filling machinery of the type set forth in said application. Abrief reference to the machineas awhole will be madev herein with a more complete description of the valve mechanism forming the suloj cot-matter of the instant application, and for a more complete;

description of'the machine as a t/hole, reference it may be had tothe above identifiedapplidation.

"In the operation of machines ofthis general class,'a bottle to be' filled with the beverage is, in the course of its path -through or around the iiiachine, elevated to a filling position at which its open mouth is sealingly, pressedfagainst a suitable beverage discharging outletn subsequently' a v'alveifs automatically turned to adrnit bever therapid operationof themach'ine, it'sometimes 1 happens that a bottle which' has been carelessly" tle filling machine, and constructedto auwmanhandled.) and cleaned prior to the filling process;

is presentedto the said discharge orifice with" the Ymouth thereof chipped or broken so that a chipped portion ofthe bottle mouth totneatmosphere and be wasted v v It is therefore an object oftnis inventionto provide a valve mechanism; controlling" the discharge of beverage fromthesupply tank to the bottle, during the continuous operation of a botcally shut offfin an improved mannerj the flow thelike. if

machine, a valve mechanismhaving 5 4?"- "acteristics referred to andf provided withmeans of beverage when"the'-"same'exceeds a predeter' i U mined rate of flow such as might"be-occasioned by presenting to thefilliiig apparatus a bottle having a; mouth which is'broken or chipped Another object is toprovide, ma bottle filling 'panying drawing, in which;

part of a bottle filling machineand showing an heads and the tank may rotate around a central Conrad wlficliraitle, Cleveland, Ohio, assigntm l to The Bishopfii Babceok Mfg Company, Clevee I f l and, Ohio a corporation of Ohio 7 i a p ,1 r g licationfluly" 17; :193 1,"S erial No. 551,468"

H a v V n 10112 6411),

""This invention relates to bottle" fimn wma;

whereby the valve; after it has automatically shut off the'fiow, may automatically be restoredtoits dischar'g' g'condition to fill the next suetaneously cut off the flow of beverage to the bottle'the moment the flow theretdstarts. v

I Another objectis to prcvide,,in a brittle filling machine of the type in which; after' bottle is presented to a discharge orifice for filling, a valve is automatically openedto admit beverage thereto, an improved means for. cutting off the flow of fluid the moment it starts provided that the bottle is defectivein that it has a chipped'or broken mouth, and \ivhich operation of. the valve to its closed position automatically restores the flow-interrupting means toa normal position where it will be inoperative for bottles which" are not so defective. v J Other objects will beapparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, i

Myinvention' is fully disclosed in the following description taken in connection with theaccom Fig. l is a fragmentary oross-secti onal view of a embodiment of my invention associated there- FiglZ a fragmentary crpss-sectional view taken approximately from the plane'2 of Fig; 1; Fig: 3 is a fragmentary view taken irornthe "Fig; 4 is a view similar to Fig; 1 but illustrating a 'inodification of my invention. i

' Referring to the drawing, I have shown at l a beverage supply tank in which a quantity of beverage to be bottledis contained. Thebeverage is generally of the carbonated type andgas therefrom accumulates in the upper part ,Zoi thetank; and toprevent itsescape thereof, the U cover"3 "of'thetankissealed to-the'tank'as by a gasket 4. The beverage which only fills a part or the tan isindicatedat 5.; l

A valve head 6 is secured 'tothe bottom of the tank I and a valve device to be more fully described is disposed therein whereby "a bottle may be filled by beverage 5 from the tankQl. As willbeun'derstood from the more complete, description hereinbefore referred to, theremay be a'plurality of valve heads 6" and the valve axis not shown, and a continuous succession of bottles 1 may be automatically moved to successively bring a bottle into association with each valve head and after operation of the valve head to fill the bottle, the bottle may be removed.

The apparatus for rotating the tank and valve heads and for elevating and depressing and removing the bottle I has not been shown in the drawing for the sake of simplification. It may be added,however, that each'valve device in the valve heads 6 is provided with an external lever 8 which, during the rotation of the valve head around the central axis, engages suitablyspaced and disposed fixed stops whereby as'will presently appear, the valve device in the head 6 will be operated successively to different positions to control the flow of beverage to the bottle l.

The valve head 8 has sealingly fitted therein a transversely disposed valve element S of conical form. Three passageways ll), I! and [2 are pro' idi d PhS TQ l Q h di metr al y ,fi p h r iiva es i ntt m inie e dfi i Sealed qnd ti 12th? h d Dreamin 7'3 F d against a shoulder hi on the valve element and against the sleeve l5 screw-threaded into the head T a v emni l z te ei .q tw dl throughthe sleeve l5 and has secured thereto the lever 8 above referred to. H x t When the valve element 9" is intheposition illustrated, the passageway l l establishes; comrnunication between the: interior of the tank l and the bottlellj by means of a duct Hi between the't'a'nk l and the valve element 9, and by means of filling tube ll extending downwardly into thebottle to a point adjacent the bottom thereof and extending upwardly 'out'of the bottle and screw-threaded into a duct l The passageway lll with the valve element 9" in the position illustrated, establishes communication between the" gas-filled space 2 above the liquid 5"in thetank l and thej inte'r ior" of the bottle r by means of'a d ua l9 in'the' head a which communicates With a pipe 29, the IC We l end of which is screw-threaded sad the duct 19' and" the'upper end of which extends upwardly throu g'li the liquid 5 and into the space 2; and by ns of a duct 2t in the head 6 opening intda'chamber 22 andpassageways 23 and M communicating with the chamber 22 and with the ilfitelll Of the bottle TL V To effect this'latter communication, the open head 49 by providing a coaxial bore' therethroug'h of larger diameter than the tube ll telescoped theretlirough, and' in upward movement of the bottle l by the parts of the filling' machine not shown, the head 40' is thrust upwardly to seal the upper end thereof against a packing 4| disposed in arecess in the head 6'. t The packing M is'secured' in the recess by ascre'w-threaded gland nut 42 which presses it sealingly against a washer t3 having a central downwardly extending tubularportion'fi l through which the tube ll is telescopically disposed, and the passageway 23 extends through the tubular extension 34. Thus thepassageway 23 communicates at its-upper end with the chamber 22 and at its lower end with the passageway 24. t I v the position of the valve element 9 illustrated, the passageway I 0 is in such a rotated position pf the valve element that it is shut ofi, but when the valve element 9 isrotated to a suitable position, the passageway !0 establishes communication between the space 2 above the liquid 5 in the tank I and the interior of the bottle by means of a duct 26 in the valve head and a pipe 21 the lower end of which is screw-threaded into the duct 26 and the upper end of which extends upwardly through the liquid and into the space 2 thereabove; and by means of a duct 28 in the valve head 6 which opens into the chamber 22.

Liquid& not only fills the tank I but also maintains filled at all times the duct l6. Preferably the upper end of the duct 86 is enlarged into a chamber29 inthe bottom of the tank I. Thus a port Si) is provided at the upper end of the duct I 6 where the" duct joints with the chamber 29. Immediately above the port 30 is a float valve 3| preferably in the form of a hollow cylinder of Thevalve 3i floats in the beverage inthe chamber 29 and its position ismaintainedto main tain the stem 32- substantially axially in; the duct I6, by aplurality suchas three pins-33+3-3 dis-- posed parallel to the axis of the cylindrical valve- 3l,-spaced circumferentially thereabout,--andsecuredat their upper ends to a head 34 havinga body portion'35 surrounding the pipe 20 or other wisesecuredthereto, The float valve 3| is pre: vented from floating out of the-chamber 29 by engagement of its upper end with thehead '34. The head 36 may be adjusted along the pipe- 20 by any suitable device such'as a thumb screw 36.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper end of the passageway H, where it terminates at the upper side of th e'valve element 9, is, preferably at one side of the passageway terminus, flared out or rounded over to provide a'cammi-ng surface 38 adapted to engage and cooperate with the lower end of thestem 32 when the latter is in'its downward position to be described to thrust the valve stem 32 upwardly Whenthe valve element 9 is rotated in a manner and fora purpose to be set forth later.

, In the; operation of myinvention as: thus far described, the'bottlel' is, by mechanism not shown herein but fully illustrated and described in the above-mentioned pending application; elevated to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, in telescoped relation with the dependingpipe l1, and with the open end-or mouth of the bottlesealingly pressed against the annulus 25 and with the head 40 sealingly pressed-against the'packing- 4 I Thus a passageway communication,-- from the chamber 22 to the interior of the-bottle by way of the pas-" sageways 23 and 24,-isestablished'sealed from the atmosphere.-

,The rotation of; the'head- Band together therewith the bottle 'l, moves'- the lever 8 around the centralaxisof the machine until it strikes a suitable stop on the machine not shown where-- uponthe valve element 9 is rotated to a position to align the passageway 10 with the ducts 26 and 28, whereupon the pressure of the gas in the part 2-of the tank I above the liquid, which is considerably above atmospheric pressure as is well understood, causes gas to flow downwardly through the pipe 2l, through the duct 26, passageway lll, duct 28, chamber 22, passageways 23 and 24, and into the bottle 1, thus putting the interior of the bottle under the same pressure as that above the liquid 5 in the tank-- l-.-

Continued movement of the rotary machine I subsequently gives another movement to the lever.

which rotates: the passageway lout of communication withtheducts 26 and 28 and rotates I communicateswith the portion 2 of the tank abovethe liquid 5ytherein, and is therefore main tained at the pressure thereof, the ,communica tion being by way of the passageway 24, passageway 23, chamber 22, duct 2|, passageway l2, duct Also, the filling tube 11 com municates with the liquid 5 in the tank by means of the chamber-29,.-duct l6, passageway ll, duct I8 and tube II, the interiorof the bottle' being under-pressure of the gas above the liquidin the tank, liquid will flow from the tank into the bottle through thetube I'I only by gravity an therefore with the minimum of agitation.

If, however, the mouth of the bottle I be,

chipped or broken or otherwise mutilated, the

seal thereof with the annulus will be destroyed; the interior of the bottle 1 will be therefore communicating with the atmosphere and be at atmospheric pressure, and liquid 5 will be forced from the tank I intothe bottle through the tube I? by the pressure in the part 2 above the liquid and it .Willtend to fill the bottle at a very rapid rate and then discharge andwaste through the mutilation at themouth of the bottle, But this is prevented by my invention as follows. The rapidhigh velocity rush of fluid or liquid just'referred to occurring downwardly mthrough the chamber'29 and duct l6, carriesthe fioatvalve along with the liquid and sealsthe lower end of the valve3l against the port'30,

immediately and completely shutting off the flow of liquid. Thus only a very smallquantity of liquid flows to the bottle"! and the defective bottleproceedsaround through the cycle of the filling machine without being filled and is thus clearly detectible and. may be removed from the machine and discarded. i

When the valve 3! has once seated on and sealed the port 35, it is heldthereon by the liquid pressure above it. I 'After the machine as a whole'has rotated-to the position at which ordinarily thebottle 1 would i Q have been filled the lever 8 strikes another suitable stop which rotates the valve element 9 to an off position at which, all of the passageways Ill, ll and i2 are sealed off. Suohrotary move merit of the valve element 9 may be made clockof flow suflicient to vdraw the float 3 with it to seal the port 30. 7Q?

Hwise as viewed in Fig. 2, and will therefore move g the carnrning surface 38 into camming engage- .ment with the lower end of the stem 32 to effect an upward thruston the stem to raise the valve 3| from its seat onthe port 30, so that by the time the valve element 9 has turned so as to seal off the passageway II, the valve3l will be raised from itsseat and it may float to its original or normal position illustrated in Fig. 1 The parts are now in the' position for another bottle-filling operation. I J

As will now bewellunderstoodthe rate'of flow of liquiddownwardly through the duct l6 during the normal filling of a perfect bottleis not a rate valve 3| along In the modification illustrated in 4, a valve 50 is illustrated; which is not a float valve but which may be made of any solid materiaLsuch as metal. A stem 5| may be screw-threaded into the lower side of the valve 50 and extend downwardly 7511 into theduct l5; and the valve element 9' may 54 adjustably clamped longitudinally vonthe pipe 20 by a thumb screw 55 or like device. A stem 56.. extends through a clearance bore in the head 54 and is screw-threaded into the upperside of the valve 50, extends upwardly through the compression spring 52 and has on its upper threaded end an adjusting nut 51.; Thus the upward thrust of the spring on the nut 51 and stem 56 supports. thejvalve 50. The spring 52 may be a relatively delicate spring,,but inany case may be adjusted to supportthe valve 5|] against the normal flow. of liquid downwardlythrough the duct i 6 but to permit the valve, 50 to be drawn downwardly bya greater than normal rate of flow such as is 00- casioned by a broken bottle as hereinbefore de: scribed; I a 2 Myinvention isnot limited to the exact details of {construction hereinbefore shown and described; Many changes'and other-modifications I may be made within the scope and spirit of my invention without sacrificing its advantages.

Iclaim: 1. In a bottle filling machine of the typecomprising. a source of liquid supply and means to move a bottle tobe'filled into sealedengagement I with a filling device, means providing apassageway in the device fromthe supply source to the bottle, ,a valveelement in the device movable to establish and to shut off respectively the flow, 01

automatic auxiliary valve element in the line of flow, adjustable stop means, resilient meansfor holding the auxiliary valve element open against liquid through thepassageway to the bottle, an" p the stop means at a predetermined maximum open position to permit said flow when below a predee" termined rate and to permit it to. be closed by said fiow to shut off said flow when above a predetermined rate and means for moving the auxiliary,

above a predetermined rate, a movement transmitting means between the valve element and the auxiliary valve element for moving the auxiliary valve element to passageway openposition by movementof the valve element to closed position, an adjustable positive stop for said auxiliary valve element at the maximum flow open positiomguidemeans movable with said adjustable positive stop and guiding the movement of the auxiliary valve element from the maximum flow open position to the flow stop position. a

3. In a filling device forv bottle filling machines, means providing a passageway through .the device, a rotary valve element in the devicemovable to passageway open andclosed positions, an aux iliaryvalve element controlling flow through the tion; and movable 'toja passageway closing position by flow of liquid through :the passageway above a predetermined rate, adjustable stop means, means for'holding the auxiliary valve element (normally in passageway open position against the stop 'whenthe rate of flow is below passageway and having a passageway openposion the' valve element adaptedxto engage a:por tion of=tlfeauxiliary valve element 'to 'move it toward passageway open position upon rotation of the valve element to'clos'ed position, and guide means movable with theaoljustable stop means and guiding the movementof the auxiliary valve element from the maximum flow open position to the'flow stop position.

4. Ina filling device for bottle filling machines, a'passageway through the device, a rotary valve element in the device movable to passageway open andclosed positions, an auxiliary valve element controlling fiow through the passageway having a passageway open position, and movable to a passageway closing position by fiow of liquid through the passageway above a predetermined rategmaximuno flow stop meansfor the auxiliary valve element, means for holding the auxiliary valve element normally in passageway open position'against the stop-when the rate of flow is be low-the predetermined rate only, and amovement transmitting means between the valve element and the auxiliary valve element for moving'theauxiliary valve element to-passageway open position by movement of the valve element to'closed position.

5: In a filling device for bottle filling machines,

. means providing a passageway through the demoving the auxiliary valve element to passageway open position by movement of the valve element to closed position, and guide means guiding the movement of the auxiliary valve element from the maximum flow open position tov the fiow stopposition, 7

6. In a filling device for bottle filling machines,

means providing a passageway through the device,a'rotary valve element in the device movable to passagewa 'Jopen and closedpositions, an auxiliary'valve element controlling flowv through the passageway having anpassageway open position, and movable to a passageway closing position byfiow of liquid through the passageway above a predetermined rate, adjustable stop means, adjustable means for-holding the auxiliaryvalve element normally in passageway open position against the stop when the rate of flow is belowthe variable predetermined rate only, and amovement transmittingmeans between the valve element and the auxiliary valve element for moving the auxiliary valve element to passageway open position by movement of the valve element to closed position.

'7. In a filling device for bottle filling ornachines, comprising a supply tank and a vertically disposed conduit extending from the tank bottom,

pasageway' open position by liquid flowing through the passageway and occupyinga: predetermined stop maximum flow. open position and the predetermined rate only-, and a cam surface 8. Ina'filling device for bottle filling machines comprising .a supply tank and a vertically disposed conduit extending from the tank bottom,

a valve element in the device movable to passageway open and closed positions, an auxiliary valve element normally supported in a passageway open position and movable to a passageway closed position by flow of fluid through the passageway above a predetermined rate, a manually adjustable stop movable along the conduit and engageablewith the auxiliary valve element to predetermine the maximum flow open position, and movement transmitting means between the valve element and the auxiliary valve element for move ing the auxiliary valve element to passageway open position by movement of the valve element to closed. position.

9. In a filling device for bottle filling machines comprising a supply tank and a vertically disposed conduit extending from the tank bottom, means providing a passageway through the dee vice, a valve element in the device movable to passageway open and closed positions, an auxiliary float valve element controlling flow through the passageway normally floating in liquid flowing through the passageway and occupying a predetermined stop maximum'fiow open position and movable to a passageway closing position by flow of liquid through the passageway above a pre-' determined rate, an adjustable stop supported by the conduit limiting the buoyant upward movement of the auxiliary valve element to predetermine the maximum flow open position, and movement transmitting means between the-valve element and the auxiliary valve element for moving the auxiliary valve element to passageway open position by movement of the valve element to closed position.

, 19. In a filling device for bottle filling machines comprising a supply tank and a vertically disposed conduit extending from the tank bottom, means providing a passageway through the device, a valve element in the device movable to passageway open and closed positions, an auxiliary valve element controlling fiow through the passageway,. an adjustable member movable along the conduit resiliently supporting the aux-. iliary element whereby the auxiliary element is movable to a predetermined stop maximum flow; position under the joint infiuence of the resilient support and liquid flowing through the passage-:

way, and movable to a passageway closing posi-.

, transmitting means between the valve element andthe auxiliary valve element for moving the auxiliary valve element to passageway open posie tion by movement. of, the valve element to closed position.

11. In a filling device for bottlefilling machines, a passageway through the device, a valve ele--- ment in the device movable to passageway open. andclosed positions, an auxiliary valve element normally resiliently-supported in a passageway open position and movable to a passageway close- 75 movable to passageway open and closed positions, gjan auxiliary valve element controlling flow through the passageway having a'passagewayv I so through the passageway above a predetermined in 2,010,565 ing position by flow of liquid through the passageway above apredetermined rate, an adjustable positive stop for said auxiliary valve ele- 'ment at the maximum flow open position,'guide means movable with saidadjustable positive stop and guiding the movement of the auxiliary valve element from the maximum flow open position? sageway open position against the stop when the rate of flow is below the predetermined rate only.

13. In a filling device for bottle filling ma chines, means providing a passageway through the device, a rotary valve element in the device openposition, and movable to a passageway closing position by flow of liquid through the pas- Qsageway above a predetermined rate, a stop,

means for holding the auxiliary valve element normally in passageway open position against the stop when the rate-of flow isbelow. the pre-- determined rate only; and guide means guiding the movement of the auxiliary valve element from.

the maximum flow openposition tothe flow stop stop means, adjustablemeans for holding the auxiliary valve element normally in passageway open position against the stop when the rate of flow is below the variable predetermined rate. only.

15. In a filling device for bottle filling machines, comprisinga supply tank and a vertically disposed conduit extending from thetank bottom, means providing a passageway through the device, a, valve element in the device movable to passageway open and closed positions, an auxiliary valve element normally supported in a passageway open position by liquid flowing through .the passageway and occupying a predetermined stop maximum flow open position and movable to a passageway closing position by fiow of liquid bane filling marate, a stop adjustably supported by the conduit for predetermining the maximum flow position of the auxiliary valve element.

16.In a filling device for bottle'filling ma chines comprising a supply tank and a vertically disposed conduit extending from the tank bottom, a valve element in the device movable to passageway open and closed positions, an auxiliary valve element normally supported in a passageway open position and movable to a passageway closed position by flow of fluid through the passageway above a predetermined rate, a manuallfadjustable stop movable along theconduit and engageable with the auxiliary valve element to predetermine the maximum fiow open position.

1?. In a filling device for bottle filling machines comprising a supply tank and a vertically disposed conduit extending from the tank bottom, means providing a passageway through the device, a valve element in the device movable to passageway open and closed positions, an auxiliary float valve element controlling flow through the passageway normally floating in liquid fiowing through the passageway and occupying a predetermined stop maximum flow open position and movable to a passageway closing position by flow of liquid through the passageway above a predetermined rate, an adjustable stop supported by the conduit limiting the buoyant upward movement of the auxiliary valve element to predetermine the maximum fiow open position.

18. In a filling device for bottle filling machines comprising a supply tank and a vertically disposed conduit extending from the tank bottom, means providing a passageway through the device, a valve element in the device movable to passageway open and closed positions, an aux iliary valve element controlling flow through the passageway, an adjustable member movable along the conduit resiliently supporting the auxiliary element whereby the auxiliary element is movable to a predetermined stop maximum flow position under the joint influence of the resilient support and liquid flowing through the passageway, and movable to a passageway closing positionby flow of liquid through the passageway above a predetermined rate.

19. In a bottle filling machine of the type comprisingra source of liquid supply and means to for holding the auxiliary valve element open.

against the stop means at a predetermined maximum open position to permit said flow when below a predetermined rate and to permit it to be closed by said flow to shut 01? said flow when above a predeterminedrate. I

CONRAD W. SCI-IRAITLE. 

